Age-related changes in human sublingual glands: a post mortem study

SummaryObjectives: lyse age- and gender-related microscopic changes in sublingual glands obtained from human cadavers. design: ndred eighty six human sublingual glands were obtained from 93 autopsies. Approximately five individuals of each gender per decade of life were allocated to three age groups: group I (0–30 years, n = 26); group II (31–60 years, n = 32) and group III (61–90 years, n = 35). The specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and submitted to routine histological processing, and sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. s: icant differences with increasing age were observed for the following microscopic aspects: acinar atrophy (r = 0.26, p = 0.0115); replacement of parenchyma by fibrous tissue (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001) and/or adipose tissue (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001); oncocytosis (r = 0.61, p < 0.0001); duct-like structures (χ2 = 14.68, p = 0.0006) and congested blood vessels (χ2 = 7.18, p = 0.0276). The mononuclear infiltrate changed from focal to diffuse with age (H = 8.47, p = 0.0144). No significant differences were observed between genders. sions: ing process starts with acinar atrophy, followed by the presence of duct-like structures and ends with the replacement of the parenchyma by fibrous and/or adipose tissue. The mononuclear infiltrate changes from focal to diffuse. No difference in the aging of the sublingual glands is observed between men and women.